Author's Note: What, no new reviews? Bummer. Well, as disheartening as that is, here is the next chapter. Reviews do, in fact, make it update quicker. Plus I just like to know I'm not just posting this for my sanity... ;P

Chapter Three

The narrow winding path had long since withered and the group had found themselves flying into an empty cloud of nothingness. In each direction, the darkness only grew dimmer in the maddening realm that held them captive, and it was enough to drive any sane being to the brink of insanity. And yet, for some reason, it compelled him to continue this way. Demanding him to keep pressing forward, to keep moving deeper, deeper into the darkness.

For a moment, he had considered that it was his own darkness. That maybe it was feeding into the realm, growing stronger, biting its tongue until he would be too far to turn back. But no; it wasn't that. It was the realm that drew him closer, egged him on, deeper. Something about this shady corner of the Realm of Darkness held a particular…beckoning. Darkness so great, even the Heartless had seemed to have fled from it.

And that intrigued him.

Well…knowing his luck, Riku figured something bad was bound to happen. After all, they were stuck in the Realm of Darkness. No connection to the light. He'd been in this mess before; but…back then, Mickey had bailed him out. This time, the King wasn't here to do that. In fact, he was here to find the King and gather the lights and defeat the darkness.

"Shouldn't we turn back?" Aqua asked quietly. Her voice startled him, shattering his thoughts as he snapped back to real time. Beside him Sora slowed, and Riku hesitated. "The path ran out a while ago, and…it only seems to be getting darker."

"Maybe she's right, Riku," Sora offered anxiously.

"I…" he closed his eyes and breathed in, slow and heavy. It was cool, pungent – alive with the bitter scent of darkness; that unnatural musk of fear and rage, a spurt of trepidation. "I can feel it…there's something there."

"But what if you're wrong?" Sora argued. "What if it's nothing? Or, what if it is something – something bad?"

"It isn't!" he protested. "I can't tell what it is but…it's…it's a certain…a certain warmth…like a welcoming feeling. Do what you want, but…I have to know." He pressed on, sea blue eyes not glancing back to see if the brunette followed. Sora hesitated, but sighing, caught up quickly; he decided that he'd rather not separate from Riku now. The moments passed slowly; seconds suspended like minutes, and the minutes like hours as they pushed forward. The hazy fog began to clear and a brisk wind brought the fresh scent of sea salt and sand. Smiling, Riku suddenly realized why the sense felt so welcoming.

But the haze cleared, and Riku's heart fell through to the pit of his stomach. Like stones that shifted suddenly, and he felt like spilling the contents of his last meal right then and there. Despite the fresh perfume of ocean and summer, the beach before them was in ruins: palm trees had splintered and fallen over, withered and died long ago – or else been yanked by the roots from the ground; ivory sand had faded into a crisp yellow, like the pages of old books, and the crystal blue coastline that once washed over those shores were tainted a deep plum. Half of the island no longer existed, as though it had been ripped in two as it fell into the Realm of Darkness.

"It's…It's our island!" Sora cried, his voice breaking with distress. "Riku…what happened to it?!"

"I…I don't know, Sora…" he offered quietly, eyes studying the scene from above. Sora landed on the soggy beach and Aqua stepped off the glider as his armor dissipated. Hesitating, Riku followed suit. Frantically, he scanned the beaches, brilliant cobalt skimming for the slightest motion.

"Kairi!" Sora called. "Riku – where's Kairi?!" he asked urgently.

"I…I don't know," he answered.

"What?!" he said, whirling around to face his longtime friend. "What do you mean 'you don't know?'"

"I mean that I don't know where she is in this time," Riku replied coolly. "When I left, she was in Radiant Garden – not on the island. She might still be there…but that was eighteen years ago. I…I don't know where she is now." Sora's eyes studied him, the sincerity that met his gaze, and the silver tresses that danced across his eyes; he hung his head and turned from Riku, kicking a rock across the water-logged earth beneath his feet.

"I'm…I'm sorry, Riku…" he said quietly. "It's just…I promised I'd come back for her…and instead…"

"It's okay, Sora," he said. "She…well…she's waiting for you. She has faith in you." A sapphire gaze met his and a half-hearted smile graced Sora's lips. "Besides, after this, we'll go home, right?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Look out!" Aqua shouted suddenly, and from nowhere her blade clashed against bright blue behind Sora. The Lingering Will cut across Riku just in time to intercept another Keyblade, dark pewter crafted in ornate design screeching against iron and steel. A hooded vessel leapt back from the guard, and landed soundlessly across from them. Without hesitation, the pair summoned their weapons in a shutter of light and joined the spontaneous battle.

"Two on four?" the youngest incarnation of Xehanort mocked, glancing back to the cloaked. "The Guardians always like playing fair, don't they?"

"Aren't you the ones with thirteen on seven?" Riku countered wittily.

"Touché," he scoffed, the neon blue light from his Keyblade highlighting the lack of emotion in his features. "But we are not necessarily in need of the additional numbers." Darkness swirled around him in a rushing wind and he vanished for a moment, reappearing behind Aqua. He pinned her against him with the blade of his weapon and restrained her. She squirmed beneath the Keyblade, trying to wriggle herself free as he ran a smooth hand threateningly across her bare arm. "The darkness has many temptations," he said quietly, breath brushing her ear. Goosebumps crawled over her skin, and she trembled as she fought harder. Terra charged, and the young Xehanort smirked as he pushed Aqua down. The hooded vessel clashed with the sentient, allowing Xehanort to cross blades with the other pair.

Metal sparked as they met, clatters echoing throughout the otherwise silent realm. Riku dodged a quick Blizzard spell and shielded against a blast of dark magic. Sora came in from his blind side, taking a quick attack and pounding the Kingdom Key into the vessel's guard. Xehanort smirked as blades crossed in a dual guard against his own, and lifted himself in a graceful leap behind them. Before they could turn, Sora felt a cold pain against his side, and shuddered against the sudden sensation. The ray of darkness shot across him, thrusting him backward and away from the battle.

Sora slammed against an uprooted tree, and his breath hitched as the wind was knocked from him. Nearby, he heard Riku call him, but the words were fuzzy and distant as lightheadedness took over. Vision hazed, and he tried to focus on the hiss of Keyblades as they crossed and the sparks that accompanied them. Darkness began to close in around him, and Sora managed one last glimpse of the battle. A streak of red impaled the scene through the fog, and his head fell limply as he lost consciousness.

*~*~*0*~*~*

She sat quietly on the sofa, hands pressed against her rounded stomach. She knew that their relationship had been a mistake, but she'd gone along with it anyway. And now this. She had tried to hide it, but the bulge had begun to grow in the last month. And she was sure he'd noticed. Slender fingers brushed maroon locks from her eyes as he entered the room, acknowledging him with a weak and hesitant smile. But turquoise eyes looked away.

"When were you planning on telling me?" he asked coolly, crossing to the window to watch the raindrops pelt hazed glass. "Or were you going to tell me at all?"

"Riku, I was going to…I just…" she sighed. "I didn't know how to…" A silence fell between them, tense and heavy as neither wanted to speak. A timid cry of thunder echoed across the sky, only the rain noisy enough to ease the quiet. "I'm sorry…"

"Are you?" he asked. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"No, Riku…" she countered quietly. "I had hoped you wouldn't…but…I knew you would…"

"So you just thought you'd wait for me to come to you?" he replied coldly, finally looking at her. His gaze was sharp, like knives as they pierced her, and she trembled to herself.

"I never meant for any of it to happen!" she yelled, tears streaming down her cheek. "I was weak and …sad, and – and you were…you were there, and comforting – things just…just happened."

"Never meant for what to happen, Kairi?" he argued. "You never meant to lead me on? Pretend you cared about me? Use me?"

"That isn't fair, Riku," she protested, standing. "I didn't use you. You are just as guilty – you knew how I felt. You knew that I was vulnerable – and you took advantage of me."

"So now I'm the bad guy," he concluded, turning from his enraged friend. Silence fell over them again, thick and heated with tension as she waited for him to speak again. Her breaths were shallow and frustrated, his own deep and slow. The room smelled of a floral aerosol as he took in a breath, exhaling slowly as he wished for the fragrance of sea salt. "I know what this is really about, Kairi," he finally said, pacing to the rain-battered window. "It's been almost three years now…since he disappeared…" Aquamarine bore into him, and he heard her sniffle behind him. But he couldn't force himself to meet that gaze, those daring eyes and stiff lips; tears bit at the corners of his eyes as the truth pried itself from stern lips.

"I'm never going to be Sora."

*~*~*0*~*~*

"Sora!" The muffled voice cut through the haze, and Sora blinked a couple of times as he came to. The familiar island was shaded in a nighttime sky, cloudy and dark against the yellowed sand. He sat up slightly, and the world spun as his head reeled with dizziness. Falling back against the tree, he placed a clammy hand against his throbbing forehead.

"Sora!" she called again, more intent. He knew that voice…was it…? No; it wasn't Kairi…but it was familiar. Sapphires focused on the figure before him, focusing on a shock of blue hair and periwinkle eyes. Aqua placed a hand on his shoulder, and he relaxed as he finally recognized her. "Take it easy. My cure magic isn't as strong as it used to be…I'm a little rusty."

"Besides, you took quite a hit, y'know?" The man's voice was memorable – aloof and a bit smart. Bright jade glimmered with mischief as Sora found the fiery redhead's gaze.

"…Axel?" Sora said, puzzled at the unexpected appearance of his once-enemy. Rather than the usual black cloak, he donned a charcoal zippered vest that snuggly accented his lean, muscular chest. Baggy black cargos tucked into mid-calf army boots.

"Axel?" he repeated with slight offence. He smirked and ran a gloved thumb across his nose. "Yeah, it's good to see you, too, Roxas," he said sarcastically, "it's Lea, Sora. Got it memorized?"

"Oh…sorry, Lea," the brunette apologized sheepishly; that was right. Lea had been the one to save him – well, helped to save him – from Xehanort. Blinking, he sat up, still a bit dazed from the earlier attack. "When did you get here?"

"Just as you got knocked out," he replied. Sora looked away, remembering the events of the battle with the youngest Xehanort and the hooded vessel – a pair of Keyblade wielders he had highly underestimated. Granted, Riku had beaten the younger Xehanort before, or so he claimed as he explained what had happened while the brunette had been sleeping. But still, Sora hadn't thought the youth would be so…challenging. His cobalt gaze scanned the faded coastline. Away from the conversation, Terra stood silently, distant and enigmatic against the tainted waves. But the beach was otherwise deserted.

"Where's…where's Riku?" he asked, eyes locking with Lea's. The redhead looked away, running a hand through his hair. The strands fell across his fingers like a thick trail of blood across his hand.

"I'll leave you two alone," Aqua said quietly, dismissing herself. She stood, and silently approached the Lingering Will. Sora watched her a moment before looking back to the other.

"Boy, oh boy…" Lea sighed. "Well…it's a little difficult to explain."

"Sora!" the young man cried as the brunette slammed against a toppled tree. Silver tresses shuddered as he shielded another flare of darkness, and a spark lit up his cyan eyes as Keyblades met. I recognized him instantly, and quickly dove from the sky. The young Xehanort hurled a blight of dark magic at Riku, who barely managed a shield in time, the force knocking him backward. Light flashed around me as I drew the Fiery Waltz, and my blade collided with his.

"Lea!" Riku called, standing once more.

"Sorry I'm late," I said, landing beside him.

"Better late than never," he replied. Xehanort approached us, Ethereal Time by his side. A smirk tugged at his lips, and eyes gleamed like sunstones with wild ambition. I swallowed hard against the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. He shot a look towards Riku, and I didn't have to read minds to know what crossed his.

Riku charged, yet metal didn't clash; instead, the youth quickly dodged the blatant attack, a whirlwind of darkness masking him for a moment. Suddenly, he reappeared behind Riku, and the iron hilt of his Keyblade landed against the small of Riku's back. Yelping in pain, he crumpled to the sand.

"Riku!" I yelled as the blade of the Ethereal Time thrust downward, and activated my armor. Metal scrapped across my arm as I dove before the blow, sparks bursting before my eyes. Xehanort ground his teeth as he ripped his weapon through the air. I turned to Riku, who still struggled to catch his breath. Light emanated from the Fiery Waltz, and our eyes met briefly. Suddenly, it burst, and for a moment, the battles disappeared. When it faded, Riku no longer laid on the cool sand. I looked back to Xehanort, and the vessel growled with frustration. His Keyblade disappeared in a rush of darkness.

"It seems we're done here," he remarked as he was enveloped by darkness. Suddenly, a bright light pierced the darkness, and I glanced over to the other battle. The armored figure stood before a cloaked vessel, the blade of his weapon piercing his heart. It gleamed for a moment, before the light dissipated. And then, a shimmering heart was drawn forth, or a piece of a heart, and it drifted slowly into the swirl of dark clouds. Frozen in shock, its body began to glow, light illuminating his figure as it disappeared before their eyes. The light cleared, and the victors remained.

"What…what happened to Riku?" Sora asked, studying the other as he stood silent.

"He was sent back to our time," he finally said.

"What?! Why?!" Sora queried, appalled at his answer.

"I…I didn't have a choice, Sora," Lea replied, sitting down beside him. "You see…there's a reason I was late. When Master Yen Sid sent Riku forward, he…told me something about…well, whatever the hell's going on, and asked me to send you the message, too. But Riku…couldn't know."

"What'd'you mean?"

"Riku…" Lea began, hesitating as he searched for the words. His mouth was dry, and he swallowed hard as he stood again. "You see…Riku…is one of the –"

"–One of the lights," Sora interrupted. "I know."

"No…just…just listen, Sora," Lea said, frustrated with the other. "Sometime between our time – eighteen years ago – and now…Riku…" He sighed, realizing the difficulty of the facts. "There's no easy way to say it, Sora… Riku falls to darkness…and becomes one of the thirteen."

"…What?" Sora blinked with disbelief. "No…you're wrong. Riku's conquered the darkness within him. Xehanort said that he had built up an immunity to the darkness…that he wouldn't be a suitable vessel. He couldn't –"

"I know, Sora," Lea interrupted. "I know. But…he did. Master Yen Sid said that he wasn't exactly sure how it happens, but…it is inevitable."

"But…" he began to protest. He hung his head and studied the flecks of sand around him. It was stained and soggy, as though time without light had sucked life from the once radiant island. "Can…can we save him?"

"I'm not sure…" Lea replied. "We have to gather the rest of the Guardians of Light and defeat the Vessels of Darkness – the pieces of Xehanort. But Yen Sid said he wasn't sure if defeating them will restore their hearts…or eliminate them."

"So…even if we do defeat Xehanort and the darknesses…Riku might still…?"

"That's the way it looks," Lea confirmed, sighing heavily. "Whether it does or not…we have to clash against the darkness and protect Kingdom Hearts. If Xehanort gets his hand on that χ-blade… Well, let's just say all hell'll break loose."

"Then we don't have a choice," he said, standing. "If there's a chance fighting the darkness can save Riku, then we have to try." Lea nodded and a silence fell over the pair as they watched the other two sit quietly by the tainted shoreline. "But, Lea…if Riku isn't one of the lights… Who is?" Lea cast a look at him, curious as the brunette continued. "Aqua and Terra…they are two of the three that Master Yen Sid said were missing, right? And you, me, and the King… One is missing."

"Yen Sid couldn't tell who or where exactly the remaining light was," Lea replied. "But he could tell that they were the only one that remained in the Realm of Light. Which means…we'll eventually need to find a way outta here."

"I…I think I know how to find the other missing one," Sora said. "Of the three that were lost? Aqua…she had fallen to the darkness a long time ago, to save one of her friends. She keeps talking about them – Terra and Ventus. Terra…well, the piece of him that was left behind…he was in the Realm of Darkness, too. What if Ventus is the other light?"

"You might just be on to something," he replied. "But…how does that help us?" Sora prepared to answer, but quickly quieted himself as heavy footsteps approached. Aqua and the Lingering Will of Terra crossed the beach, joining them.

"We should move on," Aqua said sternly. "Terra can sense his presence…"

"His?"

"Xehanort," he said.

"He said that his darkness grows closer," she replied."They might be sending others. You said there were thirteen, right?" Sora nodded silently, stomach heavy with the news that Riku had completed the set. Without hesitation, Lea activated his armor; a bronze layer of metal covered his slim frame, and he turned towards Sora who followed suit. Keyblades whirled through the air as their gliders formed, and they didn't stick around.